Anti-cancer compound. Microtubule assembly inhibitor. Depolymerizes microtubules and limits microtubule formation (inactivates spindle fibre formation). Inhibits mitosis during cell division at metaphase by inhibiting spindle formation. Anti-inflammatory compound. Suppresses monosodium urate crystal-induced NLRP3/NALP3 inflammasome-driven caspase-1 activation, IL-1beta processing and release, and L-selectin expression on neutrophils at micromolar concentrations. Blocks the release of a crystal-derived chemotactic factor from neutrophil lysosomes, blocks neutrophil adhesion to, and inhibits monosodium urate crystal-induced production of superoxide anions from neutrophils at nanomolar concentrations. Drug used in treatment of gout, familial Mediterranean fever, pericarditis and Behect’s disease. Investigated for its anti-cancer activity. It has a narrow therapeutic index with no clear-cut distinction between nontoxic, toxic and lethal doses, causing substantial confusion among clinicians. Apoptosis inducer in a variety of normal and tumor cell lines. Inhibitor of autophagosome-lysosome fusion. Inhibits acetylated a-tubulin mediated dynein dependent transport of mitochondria and subsequent apposition of ASC on mitochondria to NLRP3 on the endoplasmic reticulum in vitro and in vivo.